Goal 3: Breadth of Knowledge

Develop a background of knowledge across fundamental areas of study

Contemporary citizen-scholars comprehend and appreciate how knowledge across a broad range of disciplines is developed and have a fundamental understanding of the breadth of human achievement in diverse branches of knowledge and the arts. Participating in courses and experiences that establish such a breadth of knowledge takes student beyond the focus of their academic major(s), promoting the integration of ideas and knowledge and exposing them to possibilities for wider thought and action. 

Goal 3 Learning Outcome

Upon reaching this goal, students will be able to demonstrate basic competence in the principles, theories, and analytic methods used in each of the following: arts and humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences.

  • This goal requires three courses (of at least three credit-hours) or educational experiences in the following:
    • Arts and Humanities
    • Natural Sciences
    • Social Sciences

Students can meet this learning outcome by taking a minimum of three approved courses, one within each of the areas listed below, or through a combination of coursework and approved educational experiences.

  • The arts and humanities
  • The natural sciences
  • The social sciences

Courses or educational experiences approved as meeting this outcome must achieve the following, as relevant to the particular field of study:

  1. Include a curriculum for the course or experience that will move students from their current knowledge to a deeper understanding of specific concepts. Assignments must allow students to demonstrate their understanding of the concepts.
  2. Include learning activities that synthesize the development over time of the principles, theories, and analytical methods being taught. Assignments must allow students to demonstrate their functional understanding of the development of these principles, theories, and analytical methods.
  3. Include learning activities designed to integrate the analysis of contemporary issues with principles, theories, and analytical methods. Assignments or activities must allow students to demonstrate their capability to analyze contemporary issues based on the principles, theories, and analytical methods in the academic area.